Optometry Admission Test (OAT) Practice

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Question: 1 / 400

What is a primary function of prolactin?

It stimulates follicle maturation

It inhibits the perception of pain

It promotes milk production and secretion

Prolactin is primarily known for its role in promoting milk production and secretion in the mammary glands, making it crucial for breastfeeding. This hormone is secreted by the anterior pituitary gland and is vital for the development of mammary tissue during pregnancy as well as for initiating and maintaining lactation postpartum. Prolactin levels rise during pregnancy, preparing the breasts for milk production, and during nursing, it helps stimulate milk secretion whenever a baby suckles.

Other functions of prolactin may exist, but its primary and most well-recognized role is in lactation. This is in stark contrast to the functions described in the other options, which pertain to different hormones or physiological processes such as follicle maturation, pain perception, and uterine contractions. Hence, the correct identification of prolactin's primary function is key to understanding its importance in reproductive physiology.

Optometry Admission Test (OAT) Practice

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